Lower Austria children go trick-or-treating as Halloween night stays mostly calm

Children went door to door for Halloween in Lower Austria on October 31, while police described the night as quiet overall despite several incidents. ORF reported that many households welcomed the costumed visitors with sweets and spooky decorations.

In Rohrbach an der Gölsen, in Lilienfeld district, children carried pumpkin-shaped buckets and called out, “Trick or treat!” Christina Mauser-Posch handed them a bowl of sweets. Eight-year-old Kilian, dressed as a “bush monster” in a costume of green fringes that partly covered his face, said he had already collected plenty of treats.

Halloween has become established in the state, with many children dressing as bats, vampires and skeletons, as well as in more unusual costumes. The Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce said more than two-thirds of adults in the state were likely or certain to hand out sweets and small gifts. Barbara Bader, who once opposed Halloween, said she now joins other mothers and children on the rounds because the children enjoy it.

For the children, the evening was also a chance to spend time together after a week apart during the autumn holidays. Eight-year-old Rebecca said she enjoyed dressing up and going out with her friends; her friend Linda liked being able to dress up and play together. Bader said some residents, including older people, now look forward to the children’s visits, and elaborate decorations were displayed outside some homes.

Police said young people and adults were also largely disciplined. In Vösendorf, in Mödling district, a firecracker caused a house facade to catch fire on Saturday evening, resulting in significant property damage, according to investigators. In Baden, two people suffered mild smoke inhalation at a private party after a firecracker was set off indoors, emergency service Notruf NÖ said. Fireworks also damaged some rubbish bins, and there were fights and assaults, but a police spokesperson said there were no more incidents than on other weekends.